"Mr. Graves, why don't you just forgive Marian and Frederick? Let it go."

My hand tightened around the cup. "After what they did, you're asking me to forgive them?"

"Look, I know Marian went a bit too far, and Frederick was out of line.

"But Marian is the backbone of this company. Every major project has her name on it.

"You have to think about the bigger picture here, don't you?"

I couldn't speak.

The executive smiled at me. "How about this: I give Marian and Frederick a formal warning on their records, and for you, I can arrange a settlement payment.

"I'm sorry about the child, I truly am. But you and Marian can always have another one. You're still husband and wife.

"Marian's career is booming. You'll only benefit more from that."

I was so furious I laughed. "Fine, protect her. But why are you protecting Frederick too?"

The executive paused for a moment.

"You didn't know? Frederick was personally recommended and vouched for by Marian."

I nearly dropped the cup.

I had submitted my resume to this tech company three times.

Every single time, it vanished without a trace. No explanation.

I had begged Marian. Begged her to put in a word with her bosses, just to get me an interview.

Not a guaranteed position. Just an interview.

I knew her influence. She wouldn't have even needed to ask permission to give me that much.

But she said she had to keep things professional.

She told me not to put her in a difficult position.

So for me, it was about keeping things professional.

For Frederick, it was a direct recommendation straight to the top.

My knuckles went white around the cup. I stared at her.

"And if I don't accept?"

The executive gave a thin smile. "I'd advise you, Mr. Graves, not to pick a fight with the company."

I hadn't been gone from the building long.

The internet was suddenly flooded with posts about me.

Deranged Husband Uses Son's Death to Extort Wife

Tech Rising Star Marian Henson's Troubled Home Life

Husband Suspects Wife of Affair with Male Colleague? Was Son's Death a Tool for Revenge?

Just like that, the public sympathy I'd had evaporated. The crowd turned on me overnight.

The comment sections overflowed with praise for Marian and Frederick.

Had the privilege of working with Ms. Henson once. Genuinely wonderful person, flawless professionally, and always appropriate with male colleagues.

I don't know what Marian Henson's husband could possibly have to complain about.

Maybe George Graves is the one who's been cheating?

I've met Mr. Delgado in person. Incredibly kind, very respectful toward women. Guess when you're that successful, jealous people just come crawling out of the woodwork.

That level of trending traffic didn't happen organically.

I knew Marian's hand was behind it.

I went back to the home I hadn't set foot in for three years.

I ran my fingers over the photograph on Freddy's urn, smiling bitterly.

"I'm sorry, buddy. Daddy didn't protect you."

A set of divorce papers landed on the table.

I had just reached for Freddy's urn to take him with me when the door was kicked open.

Marian stormed in, dragging Frederick behind her. His forehead was wrapped in gauze.

"Where's Freddy?"

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. "What do you want?"

"What do I want?"

Marian let out a cold laugh. "Frederick got hurt. You put Freddy up to it, didn't you?"

"Marian!"

My fists clenched. "What are you talking about?"

Frederick gritted his teeth.

"Mr. Graves, why bother denying it? When that kid came at me with a hammer, I saw his face clear as day. It was him.

"He said he was getting revenge for you.

"If Marian hadn't shown up when she did, I was completely caught off guard. That kid might've actually killed me."

I clenched my jaw.

Marian stared at me, her expression ice-cold.

"I knew it. Living with a father like you, Freddy's learned how to lie too!

"If I'd known it would come to this, I should've taken him with me three years ago!

"Where is he? I'm taking him back. Frederick and I will raise him together. Anything is better than letting you ruin his entire life!"

"Fine!"

I carried the urn out. My eyes burned as I looked at them.

"Then you'd better go down there and teach him yourselves."

The portrait on the urn stared back at us.

Marian looked at me in disbelief.

My clenched fists trembled.

A year ago, when Freddy died, I'd spent every last cent I had to give him this final little home.

And in the next second, it shattered.

I lunged forward with a scream.

"Freddy!"

"Are you done with this act?!"

Marian seized me by the collar.

"How many times are you going to pull this stunt?"

She grabbed a fistful of ashes. "Charcoal powder mixed with bone-shaped molds. Did you really think I wouldn't notice? I pulled the same trick three years ago!

"You enjoy cursing your own son that much?"

"Mmph!"

The ashes were shoved into my mouth. I gagged violently.

"Eat it. You made the prop yourself, didn't you? Why so squeamish now?"

Marian's eyes were rimmed red as she clamped her hand over my mouth.

She held it there until my face turned purple and I shoved her off.

I collapsed to my knees, coughing without stop.

My trembling hands gathered the ashes from the floor, grain by grain. Tears mixed with the blood in my throat, staining what was left of Freddy.

I lay facedown in the scattered ashes, sobbing so hard I couldn't breathe.

Marian stood over me. "Think about it. When Freddy grows up and finds out his father faked a memorial portrait and forged his ashes just to win a jealousy contest.

"How do you think he'll feel?

"He'll despise you."

I was too wrecked to form a single word.

She knelt halfway down. "So tell me. Where is he? If you have any shred of conscience as a father, you'll hand him over to me. Just for now."

My eyes were raw and red.

I smiled at her. "Sure. I'll take you to him."

Frederick froze.

Marian blinked, then reached out and gripped my hand. "I knew you'd come around."

The car stopped at the edge of a cliff.

Marian spotted the small figure standing on the precipice.

Her face lit up. "Freddy!"

She had barely stepped out of the car when Frederick's trembling voice came from behind her.

"Marian..."

She turned.

My knife was already pressed against Frederick's throat.

...

Police swarmed the cliffside within minutes.

I had Frederick locked in a chokehold, the blade steady against his neck, standing at the very edge beside Freddy.

Sweat traced a line down Marian's temple.

"George, I won't take Freddy. I'm not fighting you for him anymore.

"Let Frederick go. Do you want your son's father to become a murderer? Can you really make Freddy watch you kill someone?"

Every livestream camera was pointed at me.

The police negotiator stood beside Marian, talking me down in tandem.

I felt Frederick shaking in the crook of my arm.

I lowered my gaze.

Glanced at Freddy in his little cap.

He looked up and met my eyes.

Frederick's trembling grew worse.

I let my lips curl.

"No. Freddy is going to be my greatest heir."

Ignoring the color draining from Marian's face, I gave the order.

"Freddy! Help Daddy push this man off the edge!"

"George!!"

"Ma'am!"

The police shouted in alarm.

Marian snatched the gun straight from the officer's hands.

Aimed it right at me.

"Bang! "

The bullet tore into my chest, blooming into a flower of red.

I swayed.

My grip on Frederick's throat went slack.

Before I fell, I turned back. I looked at Marian and smiled.

Then I dropped straight off the edge.

Marian stood frozen where she was.

In front of the livestream cameras.

The little girl pulled off her hat.

She was a girl.

"Congratulations, ma'am. Now you've killed your husband with your own hands, too."

The officer frowned and turned to Marian.

"What is this child talking about?"